Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 69:30-36
Ps 69:30-36
30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. 31 This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs. 32 The poor will see and be glad--you who seek God, may your hearts live! 33 The LORD hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. 34 Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them, 35 for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; 36 the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there.
James 5:13
13 Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise.
God knows that we have good days and we have bad days. Some of the time we are so happy we almost explode and then there are times we are so down and out that we want to bury ourselves in a hole and pull the dirt in over us. (And no, I am not bi-polar – I am just “normal”.) But what about the days we get up feeling really great and we are so happy and then something happens and suddenly, we are sad or angry or just overwhelmed? These days are a part of life too!
One of the things Paul tells us to do is pray about everything and to give thanks for all things. Even on the worst day, we can give thanks for the many good things in our lives. As we fill our hearts with thanksgiving, we find songs coming to our lips and we begin to fill our hearts with praise. When we count our blessings and “name them one by one” we find they are beyond number. God is so good to us!
On a bad day, we especially need to find some way of helping someone. We may physically do something for them or we may spend some special time in prayer on their behalf. We will never feel better ourselves if we are complaining about our plight or if we are criticizing others. These only heighten our negative attitudes and thus make us feel worse. On a bad day, spend some time thinking about what good others have done or are doing and then call, text, or mail a card to them and let them know you appreciate them and their actions. And praise the Lord!
Heavenly Father it is so wonderful to see all the good in other people. It is good to know that others are seeking to serve you and to live for you. It is encouraging to see others lending a helping hand or doing kind deeds. Use me to help others as they struggle in their problems. It is such a blessing to know that I can talk to you and that you will listen and then respond with what is best for me. As I focus on good things in life, I see you more clearly because you are the giver of all good and perfect gifts. Thank you for loving me. I humbly pray in Jesus name.
Robert
